Auburn football: DVV calls a TJ Finley start an advantage for LSU

Death Valley Voice, FanSided’s LSU sister site, believes that Auburn football would have an advantage if Bo Nix was under center this Saturday instead of TJ Finley.

There’s not a ton of people on the Plains that would agree at this moment. But let’s hear him out.

Zach Regan is correct about the familiarity LSU’s defense has right now with Finley due to his 2020 season spent as the starter in Baton Rouge.

In other words, their Tigers know this cat well:

"The majority of LSU’s players have faced Finley in practice. They know his tendencies and playing style. While it might not give LSU a huge advantage, it could be the difference in a pass being intercepted or not. Or maybe it’s the difference in Finley picking up a first down with his legs."

The thing is, starting Nix may upset portions of the locker-room that back Finley. It will surely upset a ton of fans, sparking some uncomfortable (and erroneously asked) questions about why the incumbent legacy QB is still the starting signal-caller.

Harsin could justify the decision by saying this past Saturday was a wake-up call for the junior QB out of Pinson, Alabama. Then again, the Louisiana native Finley most certainly earned the right to start given his heroism in the fourth quarter against Georgia State.

That heroism was even needed against Georgia State is why Nix has lost the privilege to even be on the field with the game on the line.

So while LSU knowing Finley’s tendencies could give them an edge in some ways, there’s actually plenty more film out on Bo in Mike Bobo’s offense. Finley has attempted just 23 passes in an Auburn football uniform.

This writer leans in the direction of Finley starting for the emotional jolt it could provide, but in Harsin we trust either way.